Recently, the slugs and snails have been after my dahlias and lupines. I have been dismayed at how much damage can be done in such a short time over the mid-summer nights. Brutal has been the decimation, and total the annihilation of some …( read more )

Recently, we have enjoyed the blessings of taking the family and the caravan (travel trailer) to the nearby Cotswold Wildlife Park to see the rhinos, flamingos, etc. We have been promising this for a number of years, so finally, we did it …( read more )

Recently, I was in a hurry getting the children and myself ready for school. So, this particular morning, I picked up my shoes and made my way to the living room to sit down, as I encouraged the children to switch off and move away from …( read more )

Since I have arrived at our new home, I have spent time getting our garden into shape. After three years, the pruning is bearing fruit, literally. The old pear tree was a mess when we arrived, as were the other fruit trees. So, I pruned …( read more )

Recently, I have been up a ladder making adjustments to my satellite dish, to see if I could get a better signal from the receiver for the television. The signal needs to be strong enough for the receiver to receive it and the quality …( read more )

After a Sunday lunch of baked salmon, it fell to me to wash up. Imagine my surprise when our non-stick silicone baking mat was no longer as originally intended. Years of baking had left a layer of brown residue to which the salmon skin …( read more )

Over the years, I have acquired various labels: Sales Agent, Sales Executive, Regional Sales Executive, Youth Worker, Bible Student, Pastor, Caretaker, Religious Education Teacher, Information and Specialist Software Adviser in Higher …( read more )

In the summer, I was out in the fields taking pictures of butterflies and nature. This was in between dropping the children off to school, doing chores, and getting back to pick them up again later. My attention was focused on taking …( read more )

Here I was, on a cold, wet, cloudy day in late January, noticing that a headlight on my car was dead. I wished that I had bothered to replace this headlight at the same time as I had done the other one when the weather was more agreeable: …( read more )

I am the main bread-slicer in our house. Having returned from a shopping trip up the road with an uncut loaf, I thought that a bit of pro-active slicing would be in order, to save the toaster from some of the family's exaggerated wedges …( read more )

As Heraclitus is purported to have once said, "The only constant in life is change." So it is that I have had to face up to the fact that I have been writing devotionals for myself and the PresbyCan Daily since May, 2001. Like many, I …( read more )

Recently, Caroline managed to snag her engagement ring, caught in her coat. The central ruby was lost somewhere on the floor at college. Being well acquainted with my role as a husband, I took the ring off to the goldsmith to get it …( read more )

A lot of healing has gone on over the years. Like many of my fellow Christians with a history, I rejoice in not being the person I once was. However, like the Incredible Hulk, I am not likeable when I am angry. Fortunately, my wife is …( read more )

As those who journey in the kingdom of God, we can rejoice that God is with us always. So, when I wake up in the morning, I say, "Morning, Lord!" (or something similar) and pour out my mind upon Him with my thoughts for the day. Those who …( read more )

Zoë is my eldest daughter from my second marriage, and she will be ten years old in the summer. Along with her younger sister Sophia, they are at a Church of England primary school where I am a Vision and Values governor. Every term, we …( read more )

We have various inscriptions around inside our church and out the front on the lawn. They are there as a celebration and remembrance of various people who have given their lives in service, whether in membership, war, or leadership over …( read more )

When I was a boy aged eleven to sixteen, at the beginning and end of each term for the five years that I was away at school, I used to have to cross over London from Morden to Kings Cross on the Northern Line, changing tube trains and …( read more )

Presently, I have the children on holiday with me. I ask their help to enable me not to become snowed under with mess and noise. "Good luck!" I hear in the distance! As a retired teacher and old parent, I know that redirection, …( read more )

As someone who generally likes to be in control, I have sometimes found it hard to let go and trust God to handle it. This is especially so when there seems to be no quick, easy, or beneficial solution to a situation, only a long-term …( read more )

My sister-in-law and family recently had my children for a sleepover so that we could clear up the caravan on our return from our holiday. Whilst I was glad to have the time to mothball the caravan, I missed my children. As a …( read more )

Many of us are familiar with today's verses, or if not, then the sentiment that they convey, namely, that God looks after His own, who are in His kingdom. In times of trouble, we can spiritually and mentally run into His presence and …( read more )

What? Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing a broken piece of pottery using gold, platinum, or silver mixed with lacquer. I learned about it on the Internet. Rather than throw away a treasured and precious possession, something that …( read more )

Anakin Nibbles, our guinea pig, was out in the garden again today. It was one of the warmer days of early spring, so I thought that he could do with the exercise. So, I put his house down on some new grass, and with him inside, moved his …( read more )

Anakin Nibbles is rather a spoilt old gentleman guinea pig that enjoys being out in the run in the garden sunshine, as the weather allows, and grazing the grass. In winter, when it is cold enough, he comes into the conservatory, and in …( read more )

I have an optical mouse. It has two batteries. One makes it light up, and the other, apparently, is for the wireless connection to the receiver. However, the battery for the wireless transmission seems to run out before the one for the …( read more )

As a father of four, it warms my heart to see new life, especially newborn babies, because they tug at my own memories at the core of my being. But online photographs of twins born last December sent a pang of sorrow through my heart …( read more )

I have moved house recently to a chalet bungalow on the very edge of town here in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. The house is rather run-down and in need of major TLC. There was a holly tree that was planted some twenty years ago …( read more )

Most often, I am an "all-or-nothing" person: either in or out. Whilst I happily recognize the reality of shades of grey in life's arena, I make my choices: I am impulsive, impatient, and confrontational. I want everything done ASAP, …( read more )

I am the maddy: the mummy-daddy. Caroline and I work as a team. She earns my living so that, for my part, I can enjoy being at home. I do the majority of chores, running the day-to-day stuff of life and wrangling with the children. I …( read more )

I am in the process of selling my house, a long process that I have found to be frustrating, because people are unable to see what an asset our house is to the right person. A few days ago, however, I read this Scripture: I immediately …( read more )

I have an electric cooker (or stove) with a tough, translucent black glass surface to protect the cooker elements from the saucepans. When the electricity is turned off at the switch, the red glow fades, but the heat generated by the …( read more )

We have a lovely Christmas tree. It usually comes down from the loft in December, and out from the various boxes come all the branches and paraphernalia that are stored away for the rest of the year. This year, my children were impatient …( read more )

The temple curtain kept everyone out of the Most Holy Place except one priest once a year. When Jesus paid the price for our sin by dying on the cross, the curtain was torn in two as God's sign that we may now approach His throne without …( read more )